System for physically and visually demarcating activity zones and method of using same

ABSTRACT

The novel system of the present invention includes a plurality of moveable markers, such as cones, having two visually contrasting indicators useful for physically and visually demarcating activity zones. The markers can be dispersed spatially, such as being placed on the ground or on posts, to demarcate areas, zones, regions or boundaries, for conducting an activity, such as soccer practice. The system is useful to guide, instruct, monitor or constrain the activity of an individual, or object. Alignment of the markers can visually separate one zone from another zone so as to indicate different activities for each zone.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system useful in the organization of an activity, such as the practice of soccer.

Description of the Prior Art

U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,416, issued on Jan. 4, 2000 and entitled “Portable Athletic Field Boundary” discloses a portable field boundary for field sports such as soccer. The boundary can be anchored to the ground and includes pennants attached thereupon in various places to denote corners, goals and midfield.

United States Patent Application Publication No. 2004/0159280 A1 entitled “Pylon” discloses a pylon that is moveable and stackable.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,971,329, issued on Dec. 6, 2005 and entitled “Lane Marker” discloses a collapsible traffic control cone that includes a lane marker extendable from a cone and releasably attached to an adjacent cone. The lane markers can include a motion sensor responsive to oncoming traffic, a light sensor responsive to approaching headlights or a sensor responsive to light levels to turn on a light when the level drops below a given threshold such as after sunset or inclement weather.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,951,045 B1, issued on May 31, 2011 and entitled “Multi-Functional Athletic Training System” discloses a system for automating otherwise manually implemented tasks and performing reaction time, football receiver patter, and shuttle/split training exercises. The system includes domes, a touchpad unit and a handheld control unit.

United States Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0329584 A1 entitled “Soccer Passing Trainer Apparatus And Games” discloses an apparatus for improving passing skills in soccer, consisting of one or more triangles that can be placed on the ground to demarcate regions or boundaries on a playing field within which player movement is constrained or otherwise guided. The triangles are formed from three stakes connected by webbing or rope.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,816,882 B2, issued on Aug. 26, 2014 and entitled “Portable Landing Pad Marker and Method of Using The Same” discloses a portable landing pad marker that includes a light source. The marker may be used to facilitate the landing of a helicopter or other airborne vehicle.

SUMMARY

The novel system of the present invention includes a plurality of moveable markers, such as cones, having at least two visually contrasting indicators useful for physically and visually demarcating activity zones. The markers can be dispersed spatially, such as being placed on the ground or on posts, to demarcate areas, zones, regions or boundaries, for conducting an activity, such as soccer practice. The system is useful to guide, instruct, monitor or constrain the activity of an individual or object. Alignment of the markers can visually separate one zone from another zone.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a prior art system.

FIG. 2 is a top view of one embodiment of the system of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view of another embodiment of the system of the present invention and depicts the use of sensors on at least one marker.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts a prior art system involving markers having a uniform color. The markers can be physically configured to define different zones but do not visually distinguish the zones.

FIG. 2 depicts the system 10 of the present invention having a plurality of markers 12. In this embodiment of the invention, system 10 includes twenty-six markers. Each marker 12 includes a first visual display 14 and a second visual display 16. Markers 12 are dispersed, placed or configured to define a first area or zone 18 and a second area or zone 20. System 10 thereby physically demarcates a first zone 18 from a second zone 20 and visually demarcates a first zone 18 by having first visual display 14 pointing outwardly and visually demarcates second activity zone 20 by having second visual display 14 pointing inwardly.

The movable markers 12 are capable of being dispersed physically to define a first area 18 in which an activity can occur and a second area 20 in which the same or different activity can occur. The markers 12 are arranged so as to visually distinguish first zone 18 from second zone 20.

The markers can be of any shape capable of displaying two contrasting colors. Markers can be any moveable and visually perceivable object. Markers can include traffic cones; practice cones; pylons; flat surfaces having various shapes such as squares, rectangles or circles; posts; cubes; or spheres. Contrasting colors means any two colors that are visually distinct and useful to separate one zone from another.

Markers can be placed on any surface or other object to create spatially separate activity zones. Markers can be placed on surfaces such as practice fields, soccer fields, football fields and basketball courts.

Markers can be placed so as to arrange the visual indicators to create a first zone and a second zone. The zones can be adjacent or spaced apart. The zones can have the same shape or different shape. Zones can have any shape including squares, rectangle, circles, ovals, triangles or irregular shapes. Zone shape may be selected to mimic an actual game field areas or to otherwise facilitate an activity.

Markers can the same or different shapes. Markers can be shaped so as to afford stackability.

Markers include a first visual display or indicator and a second visual display or indicator. The first visual indicator is visually distinguishable from the second visual indicator. The first visual indicator can be a first color, such as white. The second visual indicator can be a second color, such as black. Other visually contrasting combinations can be used as the visual indicators, including, but not limited to: yellow/red; yellow/black; reflective/non-reflective; lighted/dark; and green/white.

Visual display or indicators can be persistent or temporary. Persistent visual indicators can be physically part of the markers such as different color materials or different color paint or different color permanent stickers. Temporary indicators can be temporary stickers, digital displays or lights. Contrasting indicators can include: light/no light. The visual indicators can be altered in response to the performance of an individual.

Temporary visual indicators can be altered locally or remotely, such as via a Wi-Fi connection. One or more or all of the visual displays can be altered. The alteration of visual displays can be synchronized for desired practice drills.

Activity zones or areas can be usefully defined as practice areas, holding areas, waiting areas, que lines or security lines. Activity zones can be used for the practice of sports, organizing individuals or objects or separating individuals or objects. Activity zones can be used to delineate boundaries, crowd control, to create queues or crowd organization. Activity zones can also be used to differentiate the type of planned or desired activity from one zone to another. Activity zones can be used in youth groups or youth camps.

When used for soccer practice, each zone can designate a different drill.

Markers that have been placed can be reconfigured to alter the activity zones. For example, where markers have been placed to define a first activity zone for soccer wherein the zone is shaped like a soccer field, markers at the ends can be rotated to visually indicate the location of soccer goals. The rotation or reconfiguration of markers can be used to alter the existing visual indication of activity zones.

Placement of the markers to indicate activity zones can be correlated with a specific activity or purpose. A first activity zone can have a first purpose or first activity. A second activity zone can have a second purpose or second activity.

The system of the present invention provides convenience for the user to organize and coordinate activity. The system is adaptable to the environment and the activity. The system affords participants a clearer understanding of the physical location of an activity zone and improves the visual communication so as to differentiate between zones. The markers serve as a persistent or alterable visual indicator of the demarcation of zones.

FIG. 3 depicts the system 10 of the present invention having a third area or zone 22. Third area or zone 22 can be created using markers 12 to physically demarcate the zone and to visually demarcate zone 22 from zone 20. This visual demarcation of a third zone is afforded by system 10 even though markers 12 have only two visual displays. First zone 18 is visually demarcated by having first visual display 14 pointing outwardly; second zone 20 is visually demarcated by having first visual display 14 pointing inwardly; and third zone 22 is visually demarcated by having first visual display 14 pointing outwardly. The juxtaposition of contrasting visual displays on the marks affords the ability to visually demarcate adjacent areas or zones.

Additional areas or zones can be created with additional markers.

As shown in FIG. 3, markers 12 can include sensors or monitors 24. One or more markers can include sensors 24. In addition, sensors or monitors can be included on objects such as soccer balls and individuals such as players. Multiple sensors can be placed on individuals in various locations.

A plurality of sensors 24 can collect information, including information about the presence or absence of an object or individual, their location, speed and motion. In addition, the location, speed and motion of specific areas of a player can be determined, such as foot speed during a kick. Analysis of the information obtained from the Sensors 24 can be used to assess reaction time and to plan additional drills or training exercises. The system can be communicatively coupled to a computer, touchpad unit or other handheld control unit.

Sensors 24 can be connected to the visual indicators and be sued to alter the visual indicators in response to an activity.

Sensors can be configured to be unique to a person or object or to a type of person (such as a soccer forward) or type of object (such as a soccer ball).

Sensors can include accelerometers and gyroscopes, especially where sensors are worn by an individual using the system.

Sensors can also be placed on objects, such as Frisbees. For Frisbees, sensors can indicate the location, speed and spatial orientation of the Frisbee.

Sensors can also be used to monitor the biometrics of participants including heartrate.

Sensors 24 can include a power source (not shown) which can include a battery. Sensors can record and store information locally or remotely. Sensors can be communicatively linked to local or remote computers, devices, monitors or displays. Communication links can be wired or wireless, such as Wi-Fi.

The network of sensors and monitors can be communicatively linked to an app to allow mobile device users to track objects, individuals and to assess activity.

The app can also be used to guide the placement of markers to coordinate training or practice routines or other activities.

Data acquired from the system can be used to assess and improve performance.

The markers of the system can be arranged in a first configuration. The markers can then be rearranged for a second configuration.

Markers are preferably lightweight and weather resistant.

The system of the present invention is useful in organizing a soccer practice. Typically, a soccer coach will set out cones on a field to designate a grid for the players to perform an activity. Where practice involves a large number of players, several sets of the system may be required.

When assigning a group of players to a certain area, players would historically get confused because all of the cones and grids look the same.

With the present system, however, markers having visually distinct colors allow players to visually distinguish between zones and can be assigned to practice in a particular zone. 

1. A system for physically and visually demarcating activity zones comprising: a plurality of movable markers capable of being dispersed physically to define a first area in which an activity can occur and a second area in which an activity can occur without the need for connections between the markers; each of said markers having a first visual display and a second visual display wherein said first and second visual displays are visually distinguishable; said markers being arranged so as to visually distinguish said first area from said second area so as to afford the ability to instruct an activity within each of said physically demarcated areas in accordance with said visual demarcation; each of said markers being movable independent of said other markers.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first visual display is a dark color and the second visual display is a light color.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein said first area is adjacent to said second area.
 4. The system of claim 1 wherein the visual displays are digital displays.
 5. The system of claim 1 wherein one or more of said markers include a sensor.
 6. The system of claim 5 wherein said sensors monitor the presence or absence of an individual or object.
 7. The system of claim 5 wherein said sensors monitor the speed and location of an individual or object.
 8. The system of claim 5 wherein said sensor collects information in said first area.
 9. The system of claim 8 wherein said information is useful to improve player performance.
 10. The system of claim 8 wherein said sensor communicates said information to a device.
 11. The system of claim 10 wherein the device has a display useful for monitoring an activity.
 12. The system of claim 1 wherein said markers are practice cones.
 13. The system of claim 1 wherein said markers are placed upon posts.
 14. The system of claim 1 wherein said first area is used for a first activity and said second area is used for a second activity.
 15. The system of claim 14 wherein said first activity involves players practicing passing a soccer ball and wherein said second activity involves players practice dribbling a soccer ball.
 16. A method for using the system of claim 1 comprising: dispersing said markers on a level playing surface and arranging said markers to physically and visually demarcate said first area and said second area.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein said system includes a sensor on at least one of said markers and a monitor on at least one user of the system to detect and monitor an activity of said user within said first area.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein said user is an athlete.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein said first visual display is altered in response to the performance of said athlete.
 20. The method of claim 17 further comprising: altering the activity of said user within said first area after monitoring said activity. 